Things are getting ugly! Meghan Markle‘s father, Thomas Markle, hasn’t been able to keep his mouth shut in a plethora of interviews since he missed the royal wedding in May, and the royal family has been ready for some damage control. Specifically, Queen Elizabeth, who has allegedly been super sympathetic to Meghan throughout this entire unfortunate situation.

“What may surprise some is just how supportive Her Majesty has been during the problems Meghan has faced with her family,” an insider shared with Us Weekly in a new interview. “Meghan is in a tough place, and the queen knows it’s completely out of Meghan’s hands. She has only sympathy for what’s been a difficult and distressing situation for her.”

The source added, “While Meghan and the queen come from two very different backgrounds and generations, there’s a warmth between the two that’s genuine and loving.”

According to The Mirror, advisors have held top crisis meetings about how to handle Thomas’ unwanted outbursts over the past few months. It’s allegedly gotten so bad that Elizabeth may even have to get involved herself, which likely won’t be a problem considering how close they are! Royal writer Phil Dampier shared, “This is getting out of control. If this carries on I wouldn’t be surprised if the Queen herself gets involved and bangs a few heads together.”

We bet Meghan did not want this to get to this awful point. “Meghan is deeply hurt by what is happening and everything is being done behind the scenes to make sure her welfare is at the top of the agenda,” the insider revealed.

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That said, the source suggests there are now three options to stop this madness. “Firstly, Meghan could contact her father straight away and appeal to him directly to ask him to stop hurting her, but right now she’s decided to cut him off. There is a possibility an ­intermediary could meet with him and appeal to him to stop making such hurtful ­statements,” the insider revealed. “The final option would be for Meghan to cut him off completely in the hope he will stop, but the ­situation is so precarious no one knows when that would be.”

Over the past few months, Thomas has been saying things like Meghan “looks terrified” during royal outings while also complaining that she’s cut him off. Perhaps they’re angry that he missed the royal wedding?

According to a royal etiquette expert, the famous brood should have sent someone to talk to Meghan’s father after he made the decision not to attend her nuptials due to his health and being busted for taking staged paparazzi photos.

“My heart bleeds for Meghan, it’s not really what she’s banked on. I do think it’s interesting, one of the issues seen this week with members of royalty marrying commoners, is that when you marry someone who has not grown up in this environment, no matter how bright and intelligent they may be, it can be disconcerting and accidents can happen,” William Hanson previously told Page Six. “The royal household should have sent someone out to talk to Mr. Markle immediately and others in Meghan’s family. But that didn’t happen — and it has blown up in their faces.”

(Photo Credit: Instagram)

He noted how different things were when Prince William married Kate Middleton in April 2011. “When Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, married Prince William, the Middleton family were much more attuned to their position, what they had to do and what was expected of them,” Hanson shared. “Prior to royalty marrying commoners, they married other royals, whether British or European, or aristocrats. These unions were often loveless and didn’t do too particularly well, but you know what to do and how to behave — it’s part of their breeding.”

Going forward, Hanson hopes that Meghan will approach royal life “gently,” and keep in mind that she can’t be as informal as she was when she was an American celebrity. “This is an institution that has been going on longer than any of us and will continue to do so. Meghan needs to remember she is a small cog in a very old machine. She has to remember it’s not about her — it’s about the causes she is going to be championing, her own personal beliefs are irrelevant,” he said.

“Although she can do a huge amount of good with her profile, and I think she is going to open up the monarchy — not just in the UK but around the world — she can’t do it all at once, it has to be gently, gently, softly, softly,” Hanson added. Hopefully she can take his advice when it comes to this awful situation with her father…

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